April14, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today issued the following statement in response to the one-year anniversary of President Trump’s unconstitutional ban on transgender Americans serving in the military:

“As the President’s discriminatory ban on transgender service eclipses the one-year mark, I want to thank the thousands of transgender service members who continue to serve our nation faithfully despite this administration’s illogical policies and hateful rhetoric.

“These men and women, regardless of their gender assigned at birth, are invaluable members of our military. A tiny fraction of our population is willing to serve our nation in uniform – just one percent in fact. These service members represent the best of our country, and that includes thousands of transgender Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and Marines.

“These brave women and men deserve our praise for their sacrifice, not the judgement and discrimination of their commander in chief. I am inspired by their commitment to service and will continue to fight for their right to serve openly.”